How many players do you have in this party? If it's only a few you could get away with just about any Imperial career. They could be a team of ISB troubleshooters with a loose command structure, or backup for the Inquisitorius. If you have several players or just want to turn it into a long-term campaign, they could start in the Imperial Army or Navy and work their way up the ranks and maybe into ISB or Imperial Intelligence.

If that's not to the group's liking, they could always go independent and take contracts from the Imperials, CorpSec, or other like-minded organizations. Just because you're playing a fringe character doesn't mean you have to work for the Rebels._________________Aha!

How many players do you have in this party? If it's only a few you could get away with just about any Imperial career. They could be a team of ISB troubleshooters with a loose command structure, or backup for the Inquisitorius. If you have several players or just want to turn it into a long-term campaign, they could start in the Imperial Army or Navy and work their way up the ranks and maybe into ISB or Imperial Intelligence.

If that's not to the group's liking, they could always go independent and take contracts from the Imperials, CorpSec, or other like-minded organizations. Just because you're playing a fringe character doesn't mean you have to work for the Rebels.

Four players. I have an idea of throwing them against the horrors of the atrocities they will have to perform and see who decides to defect.

I've never run an Imperial themed game, but I have toyed with the idea before.

I'd do it troupe-style play,

Each player has a specialty and is in command of his specialty.
The other players make subordinate and supporting characters in that trade.

Each game can shift the focus, putting a different character in charge with the other players taking on their alternate supporting roles as quasi-NPCs.

This way you get the military-like command structure, but with players getting their turns to be in charge. Players would be more inclined to follow their fellow player's 'orders' because it would mean the other player will likely do so as well when the positions are reversed.

ie

Naval:
One player commands a star destroyer; the other quasi-NPC players each command a smaller support ship.
These games depict the big space actions, pursuits, explorations and interdictions

Fighters:
One player commands a TIE squadron; the other players each have control of a quasi-NPC TIE fighter pilot.
These games focus on ambushing rebels and smugglers in space and conducting raids.

Walkers:
One player commands a unit of AT-AT walkers.
the other players have control of other AT-ATs or AT-STs.
These games are for area patrols, finding and destroying rebel bases etc.

Commandos:
On player is the commander of a Storm Commando unit.
the other players each have control of one of the quasi-NPC specialists in the unit.
These games focus on gathering intelligence, rooting out rebels and assaulting their safe houses.

I feel like there is a sense that the empire is barbaric or overtly brutal, but I do not get that sense at all from watching the films. Evil? Yes. But the empire is "lawful evil" not "chaotic evil."

I suspect that even if people are sentenced to death unjustly, that there is still some kind of administrative process that Palpatine would enforce.

Furthermore, if the empire didn't enforce civilized laws upon its citizens, then the emtire society would devolve into chaos/anarchy. So something like murder is unqustionably illegal in the empire, and would be investigated by whatever authorities were responsible for law enforcement in the juridiction.

The distinction may be semantical, but I would say the the "empire" does not "officially" murder anyone, but rather carries out (unjust) executions according to imperial law, even if they have to fabricate the charges ("the Jedi are taking over!!!!").

I feel like there is a sense that the empire is barbaric or overtly brutal, but I do not get that sense at all from watching the films. Evil? Yes. But the empire is "lawful evil" not "chaotic evil."

I suspect that even if people are sentenced to death unjustly, that there is still some kind of administrative process that Palpatine would enforce.

Furthermore, if the empire didn't enforce civilized laws upon its citizens, then the emtire society would devolve into chaos/anarchy. So something like murder is unqustionably illegal in the empire, and would be investigated by whatever authorities were responsible for law enforcement in the juridiction.

The distinction may be semantical, but I would say the the "empire" does not "officially" murder anyone, but rather carries out (unjust) executions according to imperial law, even if they have to fabricate the charges ("the Jedi are taking over!!!!").

I definitely agree with Naaman's assessment, and to play devil's advocate just a little: Not all actions or executions carried out by the Empire are without a degree of justice.

Even within the Empire you still have the scum of the universe operating: Murderers, pedophiles, rapists. There are a good number of legitimate criminals that Imperial Players could be responsible for going after. Plus, with the totalitarian government, they may possibly have more of a free hand in finding these scumbags and bringing them to justice.

'Who cares if a couple civil liberties are being tread upon in the process of apprehending these monsters!?! Families will rest easier knowing that justice is being served.'

However, with a heavy handed justice system, there's bound to be collateral damage. Someone suspected of a crime may be tried and executed on a somewhat circumstantial case. Next thing the players find is that perhaps a direct superior is guiding investigations in a way to get rid of someone that he personally finds distasteful or uses it to get rid of political rivals. Eventually he turns on his crack team to sweep them under the rug after they find evidence of his corruption, as traitors they find the justice system that gave them leave to do their jobs turned on to them. Now they're suffering under the same conditions they've spent their careers inflicting on others, which does wonders to change someone's perspective._________________RR
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However, with a heavy handed justice system, there's bound to be collateral damage. Someone suspected of a crime may be tried and executed on a somewhat circumstantial case. Next thing the players find is that perhaps a direct superior is guiding investigations in a way to get rid of someone that he personally finds distasteful or uses it to get rid of political rivals. Eventually he turns on his crack team to sweep them under the rug after they find evidence of his corruption, as traitors they find the justice system that gave them leave to do their jobs turned on to them. Now they're suffering under the same conditions they've spent their careers inflicting on others, which does wonders to change someone's perspective.

This would make an awesome campaign. It is similar to Agent Kallus' arc in Rebels._________________Currently playing AD&D 5E, The Old Republic, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online.

Agreed. Even at the height of their power, both Vader and Palpatine believed they were bringing a New Order to the galaxy. Ok, mostly Vader believed that but the Senate cheering during Palpy's coronation was legit. Everyone was terrified and exhausted from war and just wanted peace and stability.

Tongue-in-cheek parodies aside, set the players up with exactly the sort of moral dilemnas an Imperial would face and see what they do. It's ok to play a villain in Star Wars. Remember that aside from Tarkin and Palpatine, few Imperials jumped straight to the genocide option (do not pass Go, do not collect 200 credits). Most of them took baby steps down the path and later justified it with "it's better than anarchy" or something similar, and to a degree they were right.

This is a much more engaging topic than I first gave it credit for. Thanks to all for the rousing discourse!_________________Aha!

Four players. I have an idea of throwing them against the horrors of the atrocities they will have to perform and see who decides to defect.

It sounds like you want them to defect and play Rebels. Everyone pretty well knows what the Empire stands for and how they go about their daily routine

Murder

Intimidation

Inquisition

More murder

LUNCH

Supression

Discriminate against aliens

Even more murder

AFTERNOON TEA

Annex local resources

ISB indoctrination

Plan Next Day's Murders

so the players are unlikely to go into this blind. Do they want to play Imperials?

I will put them into it blind. I am pulling a sadistic edge and taking some notes from current events to color the way I am going to lay it out. Of course this won't start until I can get my current freelancers campaign to a conclusion point. So it gives me plenty of time to take a look at what exactly I am going to do to them.

I feel like there is a sense that the empire is barbaric or overtly brutal, but I do not get that sense at all from watching the films. Evil? Yes. But the empire is "lawful evil" not "chaotic evil."

I suspect that even if people are sentenced to death unjustly, that there is still some kind of administrative process that Palpatine would enforce.

Furthermore, if the empire didn't enforce civilized laws upon its citizens, then the emtire society would devolve into chaos/anarchy. So something like murder is unqustionably illegal in the empire, and would be investigated by whatever authorities were responsible for law enforcement in the juridiction.

The distinction may be semantical, but I would say the the "empire" does not "officially" murder anyone, but rather carries out (unjust) executions according to imperial law, even if they have to fabricate the charges ("the Jedi are taking over!!!!").

I get the feeling that good and evil are a matter of perspective in the SW universe. What some people consider evil is considered the normal good and vice versa. It is no different than certain events in the world today where one country claims to be the liberator and frees a country only to set up a brutal regime in its place. I tend to think most citizens were not treated horribly under the Empire or there would have been more than just the uprisings that were scattered across the galaxy.

But then after the destruction of Alderaan I can see worlds becoming fearful. Did Alderaan get destroyed by a super weapon? Were they developing their own super weapon? Propaganda is a mighty thing when used correctly to sway the minds of the people.

I agree with your thought that the Empire doesn't murder anyone. They use the law to justly execute it in an expeditious way. And if there are casualties they should have not been on the wrong side of the law.

However, with a heavy handed justice system, there's bound to be collateral damage. Someone suspected of a crime may be tried and executed on a somewhat circumstantial case. Next thing the players find is that perhaps a direct superior is guiding investigations in a way to get rid of someone that he personally finds distasteful or uses it to get rid of political rivals. Eventually he turns on his crack team to sweep them under the rug after they find evidence of his corruption, as traitors they find the justice system that gave them leave to do their jobs turned on to them. Now they're suffering under the same conditions they've spent their careers inflicting on others, which does wonders to change someone's perspective.